U.S. patent number 5,566,862 [Application Number 08/327,950] was granted by the patent office on 1996-10-22 for liquid containing and dispensing package.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.. Invention is credited to Eugene F. Haffner, Thomas P. Royce, John M. Shingle.
United States Patent |
5,566,862 |
Haffner , et al. |
October 22, 1996 |
Liquid containing and dispensing package
Abstract
In accordance with the invention, a liquid dispensing fitment
for use on a container having a neck comprises a plastic body which
has an inner wall defining an axial spout extending from within the
neck of a container and axially beyond the end of the neck. The
body has an outer annular wall spaced from the spout and connected
to the spout by an integral annular connecting portion. The spout
extends axially beyond the outer wall and has an upper generally
C-shaped cross section defining an opening and a lower annular
cross section. The annular connecting portion is inclined with
respect to the axis of the spout and has its lowermost portion
aligned with the opening of the C-shaped portion of said spout. The
outer wall has an axial opening extending from a position aligned
with the juncture of the C-shaped portion and annular portion of
the spout through the annular connecting portion to define a
combined drain back opening and a near empty pour out hole. The
fitment is provided with threads on the upper end of the outer wall
for engaging the neck of a container. The lower portion of the
spout is substantially smooth in an axial direction to facilitate
drain back. The lower portion of the spout has an inner surface
formed with an integral axial rib aligned with the axial opening in
the outer wall to facilitate manufacture. The outer wall has the
portion of the outer wall containing the near empty opening such
that it is radially offset from the portion of the outer wall
axially below the near empty opening thereby facilitating
manufacture of the fitment.
Inventors: |
Haffner; Eugene F. (Maumee,
OH), Royce; Thomas P. (Rockingham, NC), Shingle; John
M. (Maumee, OH) |
Assignee: |
Owens-Illinois Closure Inc.
(Toledo, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23278808 |
Appl.
No.: |
08/327,950 |
Filed: |
October 24, 1994 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/111; 222/109;
222/143; 222/424; 222/478; 222/571 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D
47/06 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B65D
47/06 (20060101); B67D 001/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;222/109,111,143,424,478,567,568,571 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Kaufman; Joseph A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A liquid dispensing fitment for use on a container, the
container having a neck, the fitment comprising
a plastic body,
said body having an inner wall defining an axial spout extending
from within the neck of the container and axially beyond the end of
the neck, said inner wall having a lower end,
said body having an outer annular wall spaced from said spout and
said outer annular wall having a lower end,
an integral annular connecting portion interconnecting said lower
end of said inner wall and said lower end of said outer annular
wall, said connecting portion having a drain back opening,
said spout extending axially beyond said outer wall,
said spout having an arcuate upper portion which is generally
C-shaped in transverse cross section defining an opening,
said spout having a lower annular portion,
said annular connecting portion being inclined with respect to the
axis of the spout and having its lowermost portion aligned with
said opening of said C-shaped portion of said spout,
said outer annular wall including an upper portion having a near
empty pour out opening aligned with the juncture of the C-shaped
portion and the annular portion of said spout,
said upper portion of said outer annular wall which contains said
near empty opening being radially offset with respect to the lower
portion of the outer wall which is axially below said near empty
opening thereby facilitating manufacture of said fitment, and
means on said upper end of said outer wall for engaging the neck of
the container.
2. The liquid dispensing fitment set forth in claim 1 wherein said
lower portion of said spout is substantially smooth in an axial
direction to facilitate drain back.
3. The liquid dispensing fitment set forth in claim 2 wherein said
lower portion of said spout has an inner surface formed with an
integral axial rib aligned with said axial opening in said outer
wall to facilitate manufacture.
4. The liquid dispensing fitment set forth in any one of claims 1-3
wherein said fitment as positioned in a finish with means on said
upper end of said outer wall of said body engaging said neck to
define a liquid dispensing package.
5. The liquid dispensing package set forth in claim 4 including a
closure having means thereon engaging means on said finish of said
container.
Description
This invention relates to liquid containing and dispensing packages
and particularly to such packages which include a pouring spout and
a closure that functions as a measuring cup.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one type of liquid dispensing package, a pouring spout fitment
is positioned on the neck of the container and a closure in the
form of the cup is interengaged with the periphery of the
container. More specifically, a spout is mounted in a first fitment
that is on a container. The fitment has internal threads which are
engaged by the external threads of a cover.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,829, there is disclosed a liquid containing
and dispensing package comprising a hollow plastic container having
a neck, a fitment interengaging the neck and a closure. The fitment
interengages the neck and as a first peripheral portion extending
axially and having a portion defining a spout having a pouring lip
extending axially inwardly of the end of the neck, and a closure
comprising a top wall and a first peripheral wall extending from
the top wall axially inwardly. The closure includes a radial
portion extending from the peripheral wall and sealingly engaging
an annular area of the fitment. The closure defines a dispensing
cup and includes a second outer peripheral wall spaced from the
first peripheral wall which has internal threads engaging external
threads on the neck of the container.
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a
liquid containing package wherein the spout fitment or insert has
improved moldability in larger size spouts; and wherein the plastic
fitment or insert can be made with simplified tooling without
negative draft.
In accordance with the invention, a liquid dispensing fitment for
use on a container having a neck comprises a plastic body which has
an inner wall defining an axial spout extending from within the
neck of a container and axially beyond the end of the neck. The
body has an outer annular wall spaced from the spout and connected
to the spout by an integral annular connecting portion. The spout
extends axially beyond the outer wall and has an upper generally
C-shaped cross section defining an opening and a lower annular
cross section. The annular connecting portion is inclined with
respect to the axis of the spout and has its lowermost portion
aligned with the opening of said C-shaped portion of said spout.
The annular wall has a drain opening therethrough. The outer wall
has a near empty pour out opening extending from a position aligned
with the juncture of the C-shaped portion and annular portion of
the spout. The fitment is provided with means on the upper end of
the outer wall for engaging the neck of a container. The outer wall
has the portion of the outer wall containing the near empty opening
such that it is radially offset from the portion of the outer wall
axially below the near empty opening thereby facilitating
manufacture of the fitment. The lower portion of the spout is
substantially smooth in an axial direction to facilitate drain
back. The lower portion of the spout has an inner surface formed
with an integral axial rib aligned with the openings in the ,outer
wall to facilitate manufacture.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a liquid containing and
dispensing package embodying the invention.
FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the fitment as viewed from the
right in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the fitment.
FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the fitment.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5--5 in
FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 an elevational view of the fitment taken from the left in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale of the lower
portion of the fitment shown in FIG. 5.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 8--8 in
FIG. 1.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 9--9 in
FIG. 8.
FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale of a
portion of the upper and of the fitment.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11--11 in FIG.
3
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In accordance with the invention, the container package 20
comprises a hollow plastic container 21 having a body 22 and a neck
23. The neck 23 is formed with external threads 24. The package 20
further includes a fitment or insert 25 that comprises a centrally
disposed inner spout portion 26 that has an arcuate upper portion
27 which is generally C-shaped in transverse cross-section. The
spout 26 has an annular lower portion 28. The fitment 25 further
includes an outer wall portion 29 interconnected to the lower
portion 28 by an annular portion 30 and extending generally
upwardly and outwardly. The outer wall portion 29 further includes
a peripheral flange 31 adapted to engage the upper surface of the
neck 23.
The package 20 further includes a closure 35 that is generally
cylindrical including a top or base wall 36 and a peripheral wall
37. The peripheral wall 37 extends downwardly within the wall of
the spout 26. The cap 35 further includes an annular wall 38 !
extending radially outwardly intermediate the ends of the
peripheral wall 37 and an annular axial skirt 39 extending
downwardly and having internal threads 40 engaging the external
threads 24 on the neck 32.
The annular wall 38 of the closure includes an annular downwardly
extending annular projection in the form of a bead 41, preferably
having a V cross-section, that engages the fitment 25 to provide a
primary seal between the closure 35 and the fitment 25 and, in
turn, force the fitment 25 against the end of the neck 23.
The fitment 25 includes a near empty pour out opening 42 extending
from a position aligned with the juncture of the C-shaped portion
27 and annular lower portion 28 of the spout. The fitment 25
further includes a drain back opening 43. The outer wall 29 has the
portion 29a of the outer wall containing the near empty opening 42
such that it is radially offset from the portion 29b of the outer
wall axially below the near empty opening 42 thereby facilitating
manufacture of the fitment.
The container 21 may be made of plastic material such as high
density pollyethylene. The fitment 25 may be made of other plastic
materials, for example, such as low density polyethylene and the
closure 35 may be made of plastic material such as
polypropylene.
The fitment 25 further includes circumferential spaced vertical
ribs .46 on the outer surface of the lower portion 28 (FIGS. 5,-11)
and a single vertical rib 47 on the inner surface of the lower
portion 28 opposite the opening 42 (FIGS. 5, 8, and 9).
The vertical ribs 46 facilitate stacking of the fitments. First,
after the parts are manufactured, they are stacked one on top of
the other, about twenty (20) high. These stacks are then placed on
their side in the shipping cartons, and multiple stacks laid upon
each other. This method of packaging greatly improves the
efficiency of the cartons. The vertical rib 46 prevents the spouts
in stacks from being compressed too much. If the vertical ribs were
not included as shown, the parts which have multiple tapered
surfaces, could be stacked so tightly together, that the equipment
used to pick and place the spouts into the container would
malfunction. The function of the rib 47 is utilized with the
machinery used to place the spout.
In particular, the single, a symmetrical rib 47 is used for
orienting the spout relative to the container, so that the spout is
aligned with the front of the container opposite the handle of the
container.
It can thus be seen that there has been provided a liquid
containing package wherein the spout fitment or insert has improved
moldability in larger size spouts; and wherein the plastic fitment
or insert can be made with simplified tooling without negative
draft.
It can thus be seen that there has been provided a liquid
containing package fitment for use on a container having a neck
comprises a plastic body which has an inner wall defining an axial
spout extending from within the neck of a container and axially
beyond the end of the neck. The body has an outer annular wall
spaced from the spout and connected to the spout by an integral
annular connecting portion. The spout extends axially beyond the
outer wall and has an upper generally C-shaped cross section
defining an opening and a lower annular cross section. The annular
connecting portion is inclined with respect to the axis of the
spout and has its lowermost portion aligned with the opening of
said C-shaped portion of said spout. The annular wall has a drain
opening therethrough. The outer wall has a near empty pour out
opening extending from a position aligned with the juncture of the
C-shaped portion and annular portion of the spout., The fitment is
provided with means on the upper end of the outer wall for engaging
the neck of a container, The outer wall has the portion of the
outer wall containing the near empty opening such that it is
radially offset from the portion of the outer wall axially below
the near empty opening thereby facilitating manufacture of the
fitment, The lower portion of the spout is substantially smooth in
an axial direction to facilitate drain back, The lower portion of
the spout has an inner surface formed with an integral axial rib
aligned with the openings in the outer wall to facilitate
manufacture.
* * * * *